Press release

Russia beat France in a dramatic semifinal to face Brazil for the world title

15 kill blocks helped send Russia into the final

Ankara,
Turkey, August 31, 2013 – Russia will face Brazil
in Sunday’s grand finale of the FIVB Volleyball Men's U21
World Championship in Ankara.
They earned their spot in the last battle for the planetary throne with a
dramatic 3-1 (27-25, 24-26, 25-18, 27-25) semifinal victory over France.

Russia took an early four-point lead before the first
technical time-out, but France gradually recovered to tie at 17-17 and even
take the lead over the following several rallies.Still it was Russia to reach set point first at
24-23.France also had an opportunity to
win the set at 25-24, but three points in row sealed a 27-25 win for Mikhail
Nikolaev’s team.The ending of the
second set was no less dramatic.At
24-19, France looked like
the sure winner, but Russia
scored five consecutive points to tie at 24 each.But this did not suffice as Stephane Faure’s
players managed to claim the next two rallies
and the set by 26-24.Five aces helped Russia dominate
in set three to close it at a convincing 25-18.The fourth set offered another heart-breaking finish.The Russians could already see themselves in
the final as they led by 24-21, but France fought back to stay alive through
these three, and then one more, set points
before two kill blocks in a row for 27-25 sent Russia partying.

France’s
Julien Winkelmuller scored 19 points to top Russia’s Ilyas Kurkaev by one point
for the best scorer of the match position.Russia’s 15 kill blocks
and 6 aces, in comparison to 10 and 3 for France, set the foundation for their
victorious performance.

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